City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: January 17, 2023
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works Subject
Amendments to Vernon Municipal Code Section 17.24.080 Pertaining to General Industry Site Planning Standards
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review, and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1292 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section 17.24.080 regulating building setbacks; and
C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting.
Background
The site planning standards for the General Industry Zone in Vernon Municipal Code Section
17.24.080 require that all buildings and all ancillary structures greater than 20 feet in height be located at least 21 feet behind the curb face. This blunt standard was developed in order to keep structures a safe distance from the City’s highest voltage electrical infrastructure. Currently, this standard applies to all properties regardless of the voltage of the overhead wires adjacent to the property and even if there are no overhead wires adjacent to the property. This setback requirement is very costly. For example: A property that is 300 feet wide, being developed on a typical City street with an 8-foot-wide sidewalk, would have to locate a new building 13 feet behind the back of sidewalk. In this scenario, the area of land that must remain free and clear of buildings and structures has a current approximate value of $400,000.
Staff recommends that Public Utilities be given discretion in reducing the required minimum setback distance on a case-by-case basis, taking into account safe distances from current and future overhead utility infrastructure. This ordinance proposes changes to Sections 17.24.080(C) and (D) shown below in red:
C. Building Setback. Every building or structure shall be set back not less than 21 feet from the curb face, as shown on the Master Plan of Streets. A reduced setback distance may be approved by the General Manager of Public Utilities, but not less than to the ultimate planned right-of-way of the street as shown on the Master Plan of Streets. The Director shall designate the distance from the center of the street in any case in which the planned future ultimate width of a street is not specified or a street is not symmetrical.
D. Ancillary Structure Setback. Where a lot or parcel of land in any zone or overlay zone abuts a street as shown on the Master Plan of Streets, every Ancillary Structure on such Lot or parcel shall be set back as follows: (1) if the ancillary structure is equal to or greater than 20 feet in height, it shall be set back not less than 21 feet from the curb face, as shown on the Master Plan of Streets. A reduced setback distance may be approved by the General Manager of Public Utilities, but not less than to the ultimate planned right-of-way of the street as shown on the Master Plan of Streets; and (2) if the ancillary structure is less than 20 feet in height, it shall be set back not less than to the ultimate planned right-of-way width of the street as shown on the Master Plan of the streets, except in no case shall the structure be set back less than eight feet from the curb face, as shown on the Master Plan of Streets. The Director shall designate the distance from the center of the street to the curb face in any case in which the Master Plan of Streets does not specify a planned future ultimate width from curb to curb or a street is not symmetrical.
With the proposed site planning amendments, the City anticipates that it will have the flexibility to accommodate a broader range of development and expansion projects which, ultimately, will positively contribute to the fiscal health and vitality of the City.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Ordinance No. 1292
2. Notice of Public Hearing